Punctuation 101 is here at last! This is a book for fiction writers. This is a handy reference that you can keep close by so you don’t have to page through the massive Chicago Manual of Style, which I love, but that index alone is twenty-nine pages long! Trust me. I used it as a reference to check my facts as I wrote Punctuation 101, and I spent a lot of time trying to find things in that index…

Why write a book on punctuation? Well, it all started back in 2011 with an idea, then a series of blog posts on goteenwriters.com in 2012 and 2013. I saw so many of the same mistakes in the manuscripts of beginning writers, I wanted to lay out the rules in an straightforward and easy-to-understand way. The posts were a hit. And many of those teen bloggers said, “You should write this as a book, Jill!” And I thought, ooh. That would be a lot of work.

:-/

It was a lot of work! I would spend some time writing it, then I would get SO BORED of commas or semicolons or em dashes that I’d quit and work on something else. But every time this happened, I eventually went back. I’d poured too much time and effort into this project to just walk away. And while it was boring for me to write it and rewrite it again and again, I knew it would be a help to you all. Still, I needed to take some serious punctuation breaks throughout the year, because one can only take so much punctuation at a time, you know?

But I finished, and I am SO HAPPY! *dances* Punctuation 101 is here to stay. Grab your copy. Dog-ear the pages with rules you need to reference. (My trouble area is capitalization in titles. Who can remember all that? Seriously?) And then write your novel without worrying about the rules. Because we all just want to write stories, right? I know I do.

You don’t need to be an expert in grammar and punctuation to write great novels, but you do need to learn the basics. This handy reference book includes all the need-to-know punctuation rules for fiction writers, and it’s presented in a clear, user-friendly format with many examples for the visual learner—including some from popular novels.
Are you tired of paging through massive style guides or scouring the internet for information on em dashes, colons, or which words to capitalize in a title? Punctuation 101 will save you time and energy, which you can spend writing your novel. More info →

To celebrate the release of The Profile Match (the final book in the Mission League series), I had some stickers made!

I will mail one to anybody who pre-orders a copy of The Profile Match. If you’ve already pre-ordered, click here and fill out the form: I pre-ordered. Send me a sticker!

You can pre-order in the following places:

Paperback Copies

I only have paperback copies available for pre-order from my author store. They’re listed at a special pre-order price of $10, which is about $5 off the regular $14.99 price. I will autograph these, so if you would like the autograph personalized, be sure to write me instructions in the note section when you check out.

Ahh! Here it is! The cover for The Profile Match, the FINAL book in the Mission League series. 😭

Spencer looks so adorable in his tux with his bow tie a little crooked . . .

He has to dress up WAY too much in this book. Plus, I was thinking he needed to wear a suit on at least ONE of these book covers, right? I mean, James Bond almost always wears a suit. I’m just saying . . .

Gah! I can’t stop looking at it. ❤

Let’s look at all six together.

Now let’s look at the full cover.

Ahh . . . okay, moving on.

Much gratitude to Kirk DouPonce for making six covers (!) for this series and to Jeremy Gwinn for modeling as Spencer. What a gift they’ve both been to me. ❤

I’m SO EXCITED to finish Spencer’s story. Spencer was my very first character ever from my very first novel. You know, the novel everyone tells you is the one you learned on and you should put it in a drawer. The first book in this series, The New Recruit, was my sixth published novel. I just couldn’t let go of Spencer. I kept hearing his sarcastic voice saying, “You put me in a drawer, I’ll get out on my own.” And so it’s been FOURTEEN YEARS of writing this fellow. He should be married with kids by now. But I’ve kept at it, squeezing in one of his books where I could. He has been very patient. And I’ve finally reached the end of his tale. I’m so proud of him and how much he’s grown. If you read The New Recruit, you will know what I mean. One of my favorite book reviews ever said this of Spencer: “[He] looks at life in an interesting manner as an unbeliever and there was one line where he basically calls a girl unattractive and I was ready to wring his neck. But it passed and he ended up respecting that same girl, which elevated him again in my book.” ❤ Yeah . . . that’s my boy. 😂

The release date is October 15, 2018.

Here is the summary:

When Spencer Garmond’s friend is kidnapped, the young Mission League agent-in-training decides he’s had enough. Determined to stop the criminals he suspects are responsible, he petitions the Los Angeles Field Office to give him the lead on the case. Now he’s investigating his favorite actress, the movie director who pretended to be his dad, and even his own uncle. Weird much?

As he struggles to find the connections between this unlikely group of suspects, he uncovers a clue that could create a worldwide scandal. When the Field Office steps in, Spencer realizes he’s not really in control of the investigation at all. Can Spencer trust God to bring about justice, or will his need to be in control jeopardize the very people he’s trying so hard to protect?

I have put the ebook on a pre-order sale for $2.99 for the month of September. In October, I will raise the price. FYI, this will probably be the lowest price I’ll sell this book, since it’s the last in the series. So if you want an ebook copy, best pre-order it early to save.

You might have seen my countdown to October 4, 2017. Well, this is what I’ve been working so hard on. I created a writing website primarily to host my YouTube videos and podcast versions of those videos to make it easier for listeners to find them.

What are Storyworld Shorts?

They are short writing videos or podcasts in which I teach lessons on the craft of writing. I will post one new video and podcast a week. Over the years I have posted sporadic YouTube writing videos, and I loved it. I always wanted to do so more regularly, so this is something I’ve been wanting to do for a loonnnggg time!

Storyworld Shorts are by nature short. Over time, the episodes will build upon one another and eventually give you a thorough understanding of how to write a novel. Some of the topics/series I will discuss in weeks to come are:

-How to come up with a great idea
-Creating compelling characters
-Different types of plots
-How to outline and plan your novel
-How to add themes to your story
-Tackling a major rewrite
-How to edit your book

I’ll also be doing a monthly Q&A Live video, in which I’ll answer listener questions.

I have been invited to teach two workshops for teens at the fall Oregon Christian Writers one-day conference in Portland on October 21. This will be a really neat opportunity for teens who love to write. We’re going to learn about how to create characters, plot a novel, and how the publishing industry works. The conference is offering a special rate of $20 for writers under the age of twenty, which is a really great deal. (The non-member adult price is $75.) Please help spread the word to teen writers in the Portland/Vancouver area. We are going to have so much fun. You can see the full schedule online at http://oregonchristianwriters.org/fall-2017/.

“Don’t miss it! @OregonWriters is hosting a Teen Track, led by @JillWilliamson at this year’s fall conference.”

“What Every Character Needs.” (Teen Track, part one)
A great character can live in a reader’s mind forever. These are the kinds of characters we want in our books. In this class, we’ll go through a step-by-step process to help you create authentic characters that your readers will never forget. We’ll discuss character backstory, motivation, tags, archetypal roles, interactions with other characters, and tools to help you keep track of it all.

“Secrets of a Great Plot.” (Teen Track, part two)
What is a plot, anyway? What is its purpose? And what makes that three-act structure so successful? Are there other ways to create a strong story? In this class, we’ll discuss the secrets of a great plot, look at some alternative plot structures, and talk about the different ways to keep things moving when your story is too short, seems to have stalled, or is just plain boring.

I hope to pack the place with teen writers, so feel free to help me spread the word. Here is a link to my teen flyer. Print and share with as many as you can. Thanks so much!

I usually host a Facebook party to celebrate the release of a new book. While those are always fun, this time I wanted to try something different for the release of King’s Blood (Kinsman Chronicles, book 2). I’ve participated in several online scavenger hunts and thought it might be neat to do one as a release party.

So, mark your calendars for February 17 – 19, 2017 and join me and seventeen other authors as we follow the characters from King’s Blood over a world of worlds as they seek out a place to call home. You will visit 17 different author websites, discover their amazing storyworlds, learn about the books that take place in those worlds, and pick up a clue at each stop to enter to win the grand prize.

PRIZES:

First Prize: Kindle Fire or ($50 Amazon Gift Card) and signed copies of King’s Folly and King’s Blood (unsigned if international winner).Second Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card and signed paperback copies of King’s Folly and King’s Blood (unsigned if international winner).Third Prize: Signed paperback copies of King’s Folly and King’s Blood (unsigned if international winner).Bonus Quiz Prize: Kindle Fire or ($50 Amazon Gift Card) and signed copies of King’s Folly and King’s Blood (unsigned if international winner).Bonus giveaways: Look for more giveaways on various participating author sites (see each site during the hunt for details).

WHEN AND WHERE:

February 17 at 12:00 noon, Pacific time, until February 19 at midnight, Pacific time

We will start right here on my author blog. The scavenger hunt is not a race, so there is no need to rush through. All prizes will be awarded after the end of the hunt. Winners will be notified by email.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Start here, on my blog, on or after February 17 at 12:00 noon, Pacific time.
2. Follow the link at the end of my post to Stop #2. Each subsequent post will have a link that leads you to the next stop until you arrive back here at the end. You will collect clues along the way, enter any other giveaways you might find, and (if you want to participate) be sure to read each post so you can answer the questions for the Bonus Quiz Prize.
3. At the end of the hunt, you will find a place to enter the clues you will have gathered and have a chance to take the Bonus Quiz, if you want to. All answers must be entered before midnight on February 19, 2017.
4. Winners will be announced by Tuesday, February 21.

Planning to join us? Mark your calendar and leave a comment below to be entered to win a signed copy of King’s Blood. Tell me which place you most look forward to learning more about on the day of the hunt. (Click on the map to enlarge.)

KING’S BLOOD

Believe it or not, today is the official release day for King’s Blood, book two in the Kinsman Chronicles. My editor sent me a note to say that this is the longest fiction book on record ever published at Bethany House. If the genre were romance, that might be scary, but this is epic fantasy, so I am wearing this news (and all 210K plus words) as a badge of honor!

Isn’t it a gorgeous book?

EPIC SALE

I hope you like the second installment.

If you haven’t gotten around to reading this series yet, now is your chance! To celebrate the release of King’s Blood, I am running an EPIC SALE on the paperback copies of book one, King’s Folly. You can order autographed copies of King’s Folly from my author store for only $10, shipping included. (NOTE: My online store is wonky. It will not allow me to put free shipping on a book. So I priced the book at $7 and it will add $3 shipping to equal $10. Sorry that’s complicated… But it works!) Click here to visit the store.

MORE ABOUT BOOK TWO

In the second volume of Jill Williamson's Kinsman Chronicles, a remnant has escaped the destruction of the Five Realms and now lives on several hundred ships adrift at sea. As a flock, they sail north into the unknown in hopes of finding land that might become their new home.
As the king's illness worsens, Sâr Wilek takes authority over the expedition and struggles to rule the disjointed people, while assassination attempts, vicious serpents, and dark magic endanger his life.
One prophecy has come to pass, but another looms dauntingly in the future. Who is this Deliverer? And if the Magonians have him, what might that mean for the realm of Armania? More info →

The RoboTales books aren’t my regular fare, but they’re special to me because I wrote them with my son, Luke. They are chapter books for readers ages 7-13. There will be six books in the series, and I’m trying to squeeze them in here and there when I can get a chance. These are fairytale retellings about boys and a robot dog.

Book one, Tinker, is a Cinderella story, and book two, Mardok and the Seven Exiles, parallels Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It’s been a lot of fun to work with my son, but also to work with the young artists we have recruited to illustrate the interiors of the books. All the interior illustrations are done by kids. My husband is going to start recording audio books for them soon, which I’m also really excited about. More on that later.

For now, here is a little information about Mardok and the Seven Exiles:

Strange things are happening at the Space Force Military Academy. General Gruss believes the Ice Beast is responsible and asks cadet Riv Mardok to hunt down the menace. Mardok, always eager to “protect the helpless,” accepts the quest, but when he finds himself trapped, alone in the forest, his bravery isn’t enough to save him. Mardok has no choice but to call for help. The question is: will anyone answer?

Zondervan/Blink is running a deal on the Safe Lands ebook collection. You can get the entire trilogy for $1.99 on Kindle, iTunes, Nook, Kobo, GooglePlay, or CBD. If you haven’t read the series, haven’t finished it, or love it and want to tell a friend, now is your chance. Feel free to spread the word. The sale ends Monday, 9/5.

In The Safe Lands Complete Ebook Collection by bestselling author Jill Williamson, brothers Levi, Mason, and Omar find their entire lives changed after they are made to live behind the Safe Lands’ walls. Each must navigate the challenges before them, and somehow rescue the loved ones who remain alive. Contains: Captives, Outcasts, and Rebels. More info →

Pardon this interruption of THIRST chapters for a special announcement.

Calling all Spencer fans!

You’ve all been waiting SO PATIENTLY for Broken Trust, the third full-length novel in the Mission League series. I had planned for Broken Trust to release last year. Then life happened. Major. I’ve noticed that life doesn’t really care about my plans. It does what it wants.

Spencer waited patiently at first. Then he started to get mad. “Tell my story, Jill!” he said. “You promised!”

“But, Spencer. Life happened,” I told him.

“So? You left me with a torn ACL. Therapy is only supposed to take 9-10 months. This is getting ridiculous.”

That was fair.

So I worked on Broken Trust little by little. And finally. FINALLY I managed to finish the book. Broken Trust is now with the editor. (Yay!) She will send it back as soon as she can. Then I will publish it!

Spencer says you will not be disappointed. He promises action and adventure. In Alaska.

Download approved booklist for Christian teen fiction

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”